Target apparatus



0ct.23,1923. y Y( y 1,471,521 E. MEININGHAUS TARGET APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 1 l E. MEININGHAUS TARGET APPARATUS Filed Feb. s, 1922 "5 sheets-#sheet 2 Y E. MEININGHAUS TARGET .APPARATUS Oct. 23

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 5. 1922 oct. 23, 1923.,

E. MEININGHAUS TARGET APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1922 '5 Sheets-sheet 4 Oct. 23, 1923. 1,471,521'

E. MEININGHAUs TARGET APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 5 @QQ m3 tz. Ashooting at the target or tigure. Figure Patented @et 23, i923.

-iansn EWALD MEININGHAUS, 0F LANCASTER, NEW YORK.-

TARGET APPARATUS.

Application filed February 3, 1922. Serial No. 533,989.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EwALi) MEININGHAUS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in Lancaster, in the county of Erie and State ot' New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Target Apparatus, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to a target apparatus which is more particularly designed t'or use in shooting galleries and has the object to provide means whereby moving objects are presented for a person to shoot at in such manner that these objects simulate the actions or movements of the game or wild animals which they represent, and to accomplish this by means which are effective in their operation. A Y

ln the accompanyingr drawings: Figure-1 is a front elevation showing the screen of the target and one of the objects which is to` be shot at, arranged in the position which it will occupy when the marksman has made a hit. F igurel 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus taken on line 2 2, Fig. 3. Figure 3 is a top plan View of the target apparatus. Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4-l, 2. Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the detent means whereby the tigure or target of the apparatus at which the marksman takes aim is held in normal position. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the mechanism whereby the 1rget apparatus is reset preparatory to Y 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on lino 7 7 of Figure 3. Figures 8 and 9 are 7ertical transversesections, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 5. Figure l0 is a fragmentary front elevation of one et the figures or targets showing the same in the position which it occupies when the iigure or target is hitby the bullet. or a marksnian. Figure 11. is a similar view olf the same mechanism from the rear and showingv the target in full lines in the position it occupies when in its normal operative position readyr tor tl i inarksman. Figurel?v is asimilar view showing the manner in which the target is reset into its operative position after having dropped when properly hit hy the bullet of a marlsman. Figure 13 is a vertical longitudinal section of a coin operated. nechanisin for controlling vthe operation of the target apparatus. Figure 14 is a front velevation or' the same. Figure 15 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 15-15, Fig. 13. Figure 16 is a View similar to F10.

13, but showing the pull bar held in its set position, after a proper coin has been introduced into the mechanism. Figure 17 is a fragmentaryvertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the detent means which hold the pull bar in its forward or set position. Figure 18 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 155-18, Fig. 15, showing a proper coin in position to permit of setting the target apparatus preparatory to shooting at the target. Figure 19 is a similar View showing the manner in which the pull bar is prevented from being operated in an attempt to set the target it the proper coin has not been introduced into the controlling apparatus. Figure 20 is a fragmentary-top plan view taken along line 20.20, Fig. 18. Figure 21 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale, of the coin machine showing a coin of the proper dimensions arranged within the same. Figure 22 is a horizontal section of the saine, taken on line 22-22, Fig. 21. Figure 23 is a view similar to Fig. 21, but showing a lcoin of improper size being ejected therefrom, so that the same will not permit of operating the target setting mechanism. Figure 24 is a horizontal section taken on 1in@ 24-24, Fig'. 23.

Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization this target appara-tus comprises a screen in rear of which are arranged the targets, figures or objects which are fired upon by the marlsman and space nand having` its front side provided with the represent-ation of "a landscape, or other scene, symbolizing the habitat ot the game or wild animals. On 4the upper part of this screen the same is provided with an opening'l, through which a target or a )figure representing game is adapted to he moved and to be exposed tor a time, during which the marksman is given an opportunity to aim and tire for .the purpose of hitting the bulls eyeon the movable target.

That part'of the targetnmechanism which vin front of this is arranged the mechanism is arranged in rear of the screen is mounted upon a frame 32 which may be of any suitable construction and also serves as a support for the screen. ln the construction shown in the drawings, two movable targets or figures representing w"d animals are shown, for ezample, a rabbit 33 and a deer 34. rlhese two targets are operated individually by mechanism which is sul antially alike in its main features, but different in certain details in order to cause the target, in its movement, to simulate the animal or game which it represents.

rEhat part of the mechanism assc^iate With the target. 33 re arescnting a rabbit is preferably constructed as follows:

Arranged lengthwise of tie upper part o the front of the main frame is a longitudin tracl: composed preferably of two rails, tlr central parts 35 of which liorinontal or substantially so, the front end portions 36 thereof are inclined upwardly on a curve, and the rear end parts 3?' of which are turned or inclined downwardly on the curve, as shown in Fig., 2. Upon this track is mounted a longitudinally movable carriage which in its preferred form comprises a body 33 and wheels or rollers 39 pivotally mounted on the front and rear ends thereof and provided with peripheral grooves, which are adapted to engage with th rails as the carriage runs over the latter and thereby retain the can riage on the tracks and prevent lateral displacement of the same.

The target 33 representing a rabbit is preferably constructed from a sheet or plate of metal, such as steel, which when hit by a bullet will not be broken. This target plate is pivotally mounted upon the carriage so that the same is capable of swinging vertically into and out of its operative position. For this purpose the rear part of this plate is provided with an opening Ll1 which receives a horizontal transverse shaft Lill-2 which latter is mounted in a bearing 43 on the upper end of a standard lid secured at its lower end to the top of the carriage body 33. in the normal position of this target plate, the front part thereof is elevated and held in this position by means of detent device, part of which represents the bulls eye and iolds this plate in the position which vthe animal would assume naturally while ruin ning, but when the bnlls eye is hit by the Larissa bulls eye having the form of a plate arranged in rear of the opening 45 in the elevated position of the plate 33. rllhis bulls eye is mounted on the front end of a pin l? and the rear end of this pin is secured by means of a screw i3 to a block i9 which is carried on the free front end of a leaf spring which is capable of being deflected horizontally in a direction transversely of the apparatus. The rear end of this spring1 is secured to the upper bearing i3 or some other stationary part of the apparatus. The upper edge of the bulls eye f6 is adapted to with a do vnwardly facing shoulder 5l arranged on the rear side of the target plate 33 immediately above the opening i6 and a shoulder is formed on the under side of a projection which latter has its upper side beveled, as shown at 52 in 3 that upon raising` the target plate 33 the clined surface 52, by engaging the bu, s will deflect the same laterally in rearward direction and lwhen this projection has passed a ove the upper edge of the bulls eyeY and the rear end is again permitted to drop, the shoulder 51 of this projection will engage with the upper side of this bulls eye, shown in Fig. 3, and thereby hold the target plate 33 in its normal operative position. which the animal is supposed to occupy r-,fhile running,` before being shot.

The target 33 representing the ligure of a rabbit, for example, is arranged behind the lifting end portion of the upper part of the l before the same is tired upon by creen and the marlsman, the carriage supporting this ligure is moved from the right hand end of the screen toward the left hand end thereof. so that the target plate 33 is momentarily exposed to the view of the marlsman through the opening 3l in the screen, lf the marksinans bullet hits the bulls eye ei-G while the target thus exposed to view the bulls eye will be shifted from the position shown by full lines i lT 3 to the position snor-vn by dotted lines in the same figure, iv iereby the bulls eye will be disengaged from the shouli i and permit the front end of the target plate 33 to drop by gravity from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1.

,lifter the bulls eye of the target ha b thus hit while exposed to the view of t l. marirsman through the opening 3] in le screen the target plate 33 will be restored to its normal horizontal or natural position duringh the rearward movementy of the saine along` its track by the following means:

Arranged on the frontend 0f a shaft #l2 is a lifting arm 53 which is adapted to en4 with a pin 54 on the adjacent part of the front side of the target 33. @n the rear end of this shaft is arranged a tappet arm 55 which projects downwardly therefrom and is. adapted to be lifted by engagement lil() l ll) ril) with a stationary tappet 56 arranged on a part of the main frame adjacent to the rear side of the track ofthe carriage which supports this target plate. During the forward movcment'of this carriage and the target plate thereon, the tappet arm moves idly over the tappet 56 and the lifting arm 53 swings away from the lifting pin 54, but during the backward movement of this carriage and the target platemounted thereon the tappet arm 55', upon engaging with the stationary tappet 56 will be turned inthe opposite direction and cause the lifting arm 58 to engage with the lifting `pin 54 and thereby raise 'the target plate 33 from its pendent position shown in Fig. l` to its elevated position shown by full lines in Fig.

2, so that'the target rplate will be caught by engagement of the bulls eye 46 with the shoulder 51,'thus resetting the target plate 33 in the,properposition for the next shot.

After the tappet arm 55, during its backward movement, clears the tappet 56, this arm again drops by gravity into its normal pendent" position and carries the lifting arm away from the lifting pin 54 into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 9, so that the target plate 33 will be free to drop when the bullseye plate is again hit by a projectile.

ln order to permit the target plate V33 to move vertically freely and at the same time hold it reliably in a definite position so .that the shoulder 5l thereon will be reliably engaged with theupper edge of the bulls eye plate 46 when the target plate 33 is raised, a slight rearward pressure is produced upon the target plate 33 so that the game will bear frictionally against the front side of the bearing 43 through the medium of an interposed -washer 57 which pressure `is produced by meansof a spring 58 surrounding the central part of the rock shaft 42 and bearingat its front end against the rear Vside of the bearing 43 through the medium of the spring 50 while the rear end of this spring bears against a collar 59 secured to the shaft 42 by means of a set screw 60, as shownin Figsff and 9. y

Upon now operating the ltarget apparatus, the Vcarriage supporting the target plate is pushed forwardly over `the track byV mechanical means, but the return or backward movement of the carriage is produced by gravity due to thev fact Athat the track rises from its rear end toward its front end when considered as a whole. In order toprevent the carriage from accidentally'moving beyond the front end of the track in case the is pushed too vigorously, a stop 61Kis arranged on the track at the front endthereof, which is engaged by the front end of the carriage and :prevents the latter, from g moving beyond lthe track.

' Various means may be provided for push- `ing the target bearing carriage-forwardly over the track,- but those shown in the' drawings have been 'found vsuitable infpractice and as there shown asv follows: l

Arranged adjacent tothe rearen'dof j(he the same yare constructed track just described is ashifting `lever whichis pivotally supported between its upper and that this spring constantly' tends to pull thisl 'arm forwardly. 4The movement of the latter in this direction islimitedby a stop 66 Vand the rearward movement of this arm is limited by engagement with a stop767,zboth of v these Astops being arranged, on the adjacent part of the track. For the purpose of setting. the target for pushing the target bearing carriage forwardly the shifting lever vis turned, so that'its upper arm 62 moves back- 1 wardly and vits lower arm 63 moves forwardly during which time the spring 65 isv strained and the target bearing carriage is permitted to move by gravity upon follow'-l ing the upper shifting arm 62 into .its rearmost position, this movement of the shifting lever being effected by means which are preferably arranged adjacent to the marksmans stand and means beingfprovided'for holding'this lever in this position until released by the marksinan justvbefore shooting atvthe target. For this purpose .a hand operated setting lever 68 is which is mounted on a standard 69 arranged adjacent to the place where the .marksman stands and has -itssupper arm connected with the lower arm 63 of the shiftingrlever by `means of a line, wireV or cable 70, which is guided between its ends upon a roller 71 arranged on a suitable j part of the main frame. Upon swinging the upper arm 68 Vof the setting lever ybackwardly, the shifting .lever will be turned so that its upper arm 62 is movedbackwardly and permitsA the carriage bearing the target 33 to move backwardly from the position` shown by fulllines in Fig. 2, to the positionV shown dotted linesin the same figure, at

whichl time the spring 65 is strained. Upon shifting the parts into thisv position the lower arm ofthe hand lever j68 moves over the inclined rear face 72 of a Ystop and then engages with the abrupt front lsi de 73 therei of, as shown by dotted lines in Fig-6, whereby this'lever and the parts associated therev with, are lockedvin this position., this I*stop being mounted on-,a vertically'swinging stop lever 7 4 pivoted at its frontend on a bracket V75 and yieldingly held in its elevated position by mansA Qa1-fsprnei 7,26. essere@ with@ wsl provided Viso nen/neer bracket and bearing against the underside of the stop lever 7ll. .'When the marksman is ready to shoot, the stop lever 7 a is depressed so as to disengage the stop shoulder 73 of the lower arm of the hand lever 68 and when this occurs the resilience of the spring 65 quickly turns the shifting lever so that the upper arm 62 thereof moves forwardly and pushes the carriage supporting the bearing 4:3 forwardly over the track upon which the same is mounted, at which time the hand lever 68 is shifted from the position shown by dotted lines to that shown by full lines in Fig. 6. The shifting lever remains in this position during the forward movement of the target bearing carriage under the pressure which has been imparted thereto and also during the return movement of the saine by gravity so that the upper arm of this lever will serve as a lstop and arrest this carriage with a. cushioning effect short distance in front of its rearmost position, as indicated by full lines in lig. 2. The depression of the stop lever 7e is preferably etected the foot of the inarksman for which purpose a treadle 77 is pivotally supported adjacent to the marksmans place and connected by means of a link 78 or other suitable means with the free end of the stop lever 7e as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

ln `order to provide variety and increase the interest in the shooting gallery in which this target apparatus is installed, an additional target of the same general character is provided, which however, is provided with additional features which are constructed to simulate the action, or habits of game of a different type from that of the rabbit just described. Y

For this purpose the target represented by the plate 34e is constructed in imitation of a deer, the habits of which are such that the same will run for a distance and then come momentarily to a stop, upon hearing a nois and then resume its movement. As shown in the drawings, this deer target 34: is mounted upon a carriage and provided with a catch adapted to hold this target in its normal position, a bulls eye adapted to be hit by a projectile or bullet for releasing` the and permit the same to swing' by gravity into its pendent or depressed'abnormal position and restoring or righting device whereby the target is again restored to its normal position during the backward movement of the carriage, all of which parts are of identically the saine construction as those previously described with reference to the rabbit-shaped target 83, as well as the description with reference to the' operation of the same.

Thetrack over which the carriage runs is in this instance, however, composed of two straight rails 79 which are arranged lengthwise in rear of the rails for the rabbit target and are mounted on the main frame so as to The mechanism for pushing the deer supporting carriage forwardly is also identical with that previously described with reference to the mechanism for pushing` a. rabbit target supporting carriage forwardly and the same reference characters employed in connection with the rabbi t target mechanism are therefore applied to the corresponding parts of the deer target, as well as the description of the operation of this mechanism. ln addition to pushiA the deer target 3dforwardly and upwardly along the track 39 by power and permi 'ting the same to return or move backwardly over this track by gravity, means are provided whereby the deer target is temporarily held in its foremost position in a state of rest and then permit the same yto move backwardly by gravity, thereby simulating` the habits of a deer when the saine assumes a listening attitude when hearing a noise of any kind, such as the breaking of branches or the foot steps of other animals or persons.

rlhe mechanism whereby this is accomplished is constructed as follows:

80 represents a vertically swinging catch which is pivoted at its front end by means of a pin 8l on the main frame adjacent to the front end of the track 79 and provided on its rear part .vi'lh a longitudinal row of teeth 82 one or the other of which is adapted to be engaged by a downwardly projecting lug or hook 88 on the front part of the body 38 of the supporting carriage of the deer target 234i, this catch 80 being yieldingly held in its elevated position so that its teeth 82 are in the path of the lug 83 by means of a spring 84 which is arranged between the underside of this catch and the main frame, the upward movement of this catch, however, being limited by means of a stop rod 85 which passes throuoh the spring 84 and is connected at its upper end with the catch 8O while its lower end-is provided with a screw nut 86 engaging with the underside of a part ot the main frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. Below vthe track 79 isv arranged a vertically rock lever which is pivoted thereto by means of a pin 87 and has its front arm 88 connected by means of a cord 89 with the free end of thecatch 80.` Arranged below this rock lever is a longitudinal tilting rail 90 which is connected at its front end by means of a hanger or link 91 with the front til) arm 88 of the rock lever while its rear end is connected by means or' a link 92 with the rear arm 93 ot this rock lever. Along the end oi this tilting rail a weight 94; is adapted to run which weight is provided at its upper' end with a trolley wheel or roller 95engaging with the upper side of this tilting rail. The upper' arm 62 of the shitting lever associated with the deer target 34 is connected withrthe roel;l lever 88,93 and the tilting rail 90 in such manner thatv when the arm 62 is moved backwardly the rear or right handvends of the rail 90 and the adjacent rock lever will be depressed, this being preferably etected `bynieans of a shifting line 96 secured at one end to `the upper arm (32 of this shifting lever associated with the deer target and at its other end with the link 92 while its inter-A mediatel parts pass around guide pulleys 97, 98 arranged respectively on the inner side of the front part of thetrack 79 and the floor underneath the same.

In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, the deer supporting carriage is arranged a short distance in front of its rearmost position, and the tilting rail90 inclines downwardly from its rear toward its front end,

the weight 94: isv arranged in the depressed front end of the rail 90, and the latch or catch 8O is depressed and out of the path of the lug 83 Aon the deer carriage. This is the position in which the parts are arranged when the marksman finds the apparatus betore the same has been set ready for operating the deer target plate 34:. In order to prepare the apparatus for causing the target to be set preparatory to shooting at the bulls eye on the same, the marksman pulls backwardly the upper arm of the hand lever 68 associated with the deer target. lThis causes the upper arm 62 of the shifting lever to move backwardly and permit the deer supporting carriage to move vtroni the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2 to its rearmost position on the track 79 in the manner simi Y lar to the movement of the rabbit target 83 from its full line position to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. During the backward movement of the shittingV arm 62 associated with the deer target a rearward pull is produced by this arm on the line 96 which causes the target rail 90 to be inclined in the opposite direction, thereby causing the weight 94 to slide from the front end of this rail to the depressed rear end thereof, as shown by 'full lines in Fig. 7. This movement of the rail 90 and the rock 'lever 88, 93 associated therewith releases the downward pull upon the connecting member 89 and permits the catch 8O to be raised under the action of the spring 84C, so that the teeth oi this catch are now not arranged in the path of the detent lug 83 in the deer carriage.

Upon now releasing the shifting lever 62, 63 associated with the deer target by depressing the corresponding*treadle 77, the

companion spring 65 will move ths lever in the direction for pushing the deer target orwardlyand upwardly along vthe inclined track 79 and at the Sametime relax the pulling effect 'on the line 96,@ "During the last portion ofthe 'forward movement of the carcatch is released from the carriage andthe latter is permitted'to return 'by gravity ,to therear end ot' the traclr79. Asthe pull upon the right yhand or rear arm 93 of the rockl lever is' relaxed byrreason of the or-` ward movementof the companion'arm 62 of the s hifting lever andthe front'arm 88 and those'partsmounted thereon in `front of the pivot 87 will descend by Agravity by reason of the preponderating weight of these parts as coinpared with the weight of those parts mounted on the rear arm 93V v03E this lever, which is only suflicient to depress the front arm 88 and take up the slackv in the cord, but not suihcient to overcome the tension of the spring 8e so that the catch 80 still remains in engagement with the lock 83 of the deer carriage. Upon, however, depressing the front arm 88 ot this rock lever and raising its rear arm 93 the tilted rail 90 will be inclined from its rear end toward its front' end intoV the position indicated by heavy dotted lines 99 in Fig. 7, thereby causing the weight 94 to begin to run down from the rear end of this rail toward the'depressed` front end thereof. So long as this weight is in rear of the pivot 87 it has no 'effect uponl latter is overcome, thereby causing the front parts of the rail and the elements associated therewith to be depressed into their lowermost position, as indicated by dot-ted lines 100 in Fig. 7, and causing the catch 80 tof be pulled downwardly out fof engagement from the detent of the deerv carriage. VWhen this occurs lthe deer carriage is released and permitted tok run backwardly from the elevated front partof the track 79 to the depressedrear part thereof and into engage.

nient with the upper arm 62 of the respective shifting leven lt willv therefore be apparent that bythis means the deer carriage has tiret aforward movement from its con-l cealed position behind the right hand part ot the screen to its exposed positionbehind the openingl` where the same remains at rest for a short period of time 'and 1s then yes released and permitted to move baclrwardly from its exposed position behind the opening 111 to its concealed position behind the right hand side of the screen. rThis action therefore simulates the habit ot the deer and ther animals having this peculiarity and gives the marlsman an opportunity to shoot at the bulls eye of the deer target, both w ien running forwardly, standing still and when retreating somewhat in imitation of the condition which would be experienced while actually hunting deer.

llt desired, means may be provided whereby the operation of this shooting apparatus can only be accomplished by the insertion of a proper coin Aor token into a receptacle provided for that purpose. Various means may be provided for accomplishing this purpose, for instance those which are shown in Figs. 13 and 211, which are constructed as follows: Arranged in front oit' the target apparatus is a compartment 101 which not only serves as an enclosing casing for the working parts or the coin controlled mechanism, but also as a till for receiving the coins or tokens 102 which are used to operate the apparatus. Extending lengthwise through this casing is a pull rod 103 which has its Jfront end projecting` beyond this casing and connected with one end of the pull lines while its rear end projects beyond the rear side or this casing and is provided with a handle 1041 for operating it. T he pull bar 103 is held in itsy rearward position by means or' a shoulder 105 thereon, which is engaged by a vertically movable catch 106 pivoted on the rear side of the casing and yieldingly moved into its elevated position by means ot' a spring 107, but is capable ot being depressed by a treadle 170 arranged below the front part oi: the casing and connected by means of a rod 103 with the catch 106. The 1forward movement of the pull bar 103 is eitected by means oic the spring 65 which operates the carriage pushing` or shitting lever and the last end of the forward movement of this bar is limited by means of a cushioning spring 109 arranged on the front side of the casing and provided with a follower 110 which is adapted to be engaged by a bumper 111 on the handle 1041-. This backward movement of the pull bar 103, is however only possible when a coin of the proper dimensions has been deposited into the casing or till 101. This coin is inserted through an opening 112 in the top ot the casing into the upper end 01"' the coin chute 113 which latter terminates above the slot 1111 in the pull bar in the normal position of the parts, but this coin at this time can only pass into this slot and not drop downwardly through the same by reasonV ot a stationary floor 115 being arranged below this slot and forming practically a closure therefor at this time, as shown in Figs. 13 and 15. Upon pulling this bar 103 forwardly while a coin of this character is arranged within the slotllll the upper round surface or this coin will be engaged with the rounded front end 116 of the trip arm 111v which latter is arranged in the casing immediately above the rear part ot the pull 103 and pivoted at its rear end by means of a pin 118 so that its iront end can swing vertically under the actionoi2 the coin 102 thus permit the pull bar 103 to move rearwardly without interference and set the target apparatus ready at the same time lier the marlrsman. 1t, however, no coin has been deposited in the slot 1144 and an attempt is made to pull the bar 103 baclrwardly, the abrupt shoulder' 119 of a stop bloclr 120 on the upper side of the pull bar 103 Will engage the sharp corner of the trip lever 11'?, as shown in F ig. 19 and is thereby prevented :trom eilectinga full backward stroke oit the pull bar 103, which in turn prevents setting or" the target apparatus ready for shootingV at the same.

11"" a coin oi? the proper dimensions is ranged within the slot 11d the same is carried iforwardly by the bar 103 during the operation ol setting the target apparatus until the lower part of this coin is carried beyond the shelic 115 which would permit the coin to escape from this slot and leave it clear, ready for receiving the neat following proper coin or token.

1n the preferred organization of this coin controlling mechanism the treadle is connected with the catches 106 of the two targets, as shown in Fig. 111 so that by depressing one lever it is possible to operate one or the other of the targets, according to whichever has been released by the deposit of the coin or token.

rPhe coin chute is preferably so constructed that it will eject a coin of small diameter therefrom and thus prevent the apparatus 'from being operated thereby. This is accomplished by cutting out one wall of' the coin chute, so as to leave only narrow uprightlongitudinal flanges y121 thereon, the space between which is greater than the diameter of a small coin 122, but less than the diameter ot a coin or token 102 oi: proper size. A proper coinwill therefore pass without interruption 'downwardly through the coin chute 113 with the opposite edges or its periphery in engagement with the end walls 123, as shown in Figs. 21 and 22. A coin 122 of smaller diameter upon passing downwardly through the chute will, however, be deflected laterally to the slot or opening formed between the flanges 121 by meansr of a deilecting spring 124; which is arranged lengthwise on one side of the chute and has its upper end secured to the acent wall thereof while its lower inclined part is engaged by the coin passing down through the chute and slightly put under tension leu thereby. vA coin of the proper dimensionsV and discharged through the side opening therein and into the casing instead of being permitted to enter the slot 114- of the pull bar 103, whereby setting of the apparatus by means of an improper coin is prevented.

I claim as my invention: f

l. A targetv apparatus comprising a support, a target pivoted on said support to swing vertically and `provided `with an opening, and a shoulder, and means -for holding said target in its normal position, comprising a bulls eye adapted to be arranged in rear of said o-pening and to engage said shoulder, and movably supported on said support.

2. A target apparatus comprising a support, a target pivoted on said support to swing vertically and provided with an opening and a shoulder, and means for holding said target in its normal position comprising a bulls eye adapted to be 'arranged in rear of said opening, and a spring carrying said bulls eye and yieldingly holding the saine in engagement with said shoulder and mounted lon said support.

3. A target apparatus comprising a track, a carriage movable forward and backward over said `track, a standard rising from said carriage and having a bearing, a rock shaft journaled in said bearing, a target plate pivoted on said shaft in front of said bearing and having one side heavier than the other and provided on its heavier side with an opening, and provided on its rear side with a shoulder and on its front side with a pin, a bulls eye plate arranged in rear of said target plate and adapted to engage said shoulder, a leaf spring carrying said bulls eye plate at its front end and secured at its rear end to said bearing, a lifting arm arranged on the front end of said shaft and adapted to engage said pin, a tappet arm arranged on the rear end of said shaft. and a stationary tappet adapted to be engaged by said tappet arm.

4. A target apparatus comprising a` track, a carriage movable forward and backward over said track, a standard rising from said carriage and having a bearing, a rock shaft journaled in`said bearing, a target plate pivoted on said shaft in front of said bearing and having one side heavier than the other and provided on its heavier side with an opening and provided on its rear side with a shoulder and on its front side with a pin. a bulls eye plate arranged in rear of said target plate and adapted to engage said shoulder, a leaf spring carrying said bulls eye plate at its front end and secured at its rearend to said bearing', a lifting arm arrangedon the front endof said shaft and adapted to engage said pin\a tappet arm arranged on the rear end of saidl shaft, a stationary tappetfad'apted tobe engaged by said tappet arm, a friction springsurrounding said Shaft-,and bearing at one end against said bearing,and a collar arranged on said shaft, and engaging with the'oppo- Y site end of said friction spring. f

5. vA target apparatus comprising a track' having a horizontal central part, arising front part and a descending rear'part, a

carriage movable forwardly and backwardly over said track and having atarget, a shifting lever adapted to engage with said carriage, means for'retracting said lever, and a spring `for projecting said lever. Y

6. A target apparatus comprising atrack having a horizontal central part, a rising front part and a descending rear part, a carriage movable forwardly and backwardly over said track and having a target, al shifting lever adapted to engage with said carriage, means for retracting said lever comprising a hand lever, a line connecting said hand lever with said shifting lever, a detent for holding said hand lever in its retracted position, and a spring for projecting said shifting lever.

7 A target apparatus comprising an incli-ned track which rises from its rear towardk its front end, a carriage mounted on said track and having a target and adapted to move backwardly by gravity, means for pushing said carriage forwardly, and means for temporarily holding said carriage in its foremost position comprising a catch arranged to engagesaid carriage, and a timing device for releasing said catch from said carriage. v Y

8. A target apparatus comprising an inclined track which rises from its rear toward its front end, a carriage mounted on said track and having a target and adapted to move backwardly by gravity, means for pushing said carriage forwardly, and means for temporarily holding said carriage in its foremost position comprising a catch arranged to engage said carriage and a timing device for releasing said catch from said carriage comprising a rail connected with said catch and adapted to incline alternately in opposite directions.

9. A target apparatus comprisingan inclined track, which rises from its rear toward its front end, a carriage mounted on said track and having a target and adapted to move backwardly by gravity, means for pushing said carriage forwardly, and means for temporarily holding said carriage in its foremost position comprising a catch arranged to engage said carriage, and a timing device for releasing said catch from said carriage comprising a rail connected with said catch and adapted to incline alternately 1n opposite directions, and means for pushing said carriage forwardly and tilting said rail.

l0. target apparatus comprisingatrack which rises from its rear end toward its front end, a carriage mounted on said trackY and having a target, and adapted to move backwardly by gravity, a shifting lever adapted to push said carriage forwardly, a catch adapted to engage and hold said carriage temporarily in its foremost position, a vertically swinging rock lever connected with said catch and operatively connected with said shifting lever, a tilting rail mounted on said rock lever, and a weight running` on said tilting rail.

1l. A target apparatus comprising a track which rises from its rear end toward its front end, a carriage mounted on said track and having a target and adapted to nieve backwardly by gravity, a shifting lever adapted to push said carriage forwardly, a catch adapted to engage and hold said carriage temporarily in its foremost position, a spring for holding said catch in engagement with said carriage, a vertically swinging rock lever connected with said catch, a line connecting the opposite end of said rock lever with said shitting lever, a tilting rail connected at its opposite ends with said rock lever and a Weight having,` a trolley 'running on said rail alternately from one end to the other.

Ewifinn i/inniiueiiaus. 

